Author Archives: Tough Talk: An Advice Column

Tough Talk, I have been doing research on catering companies for a company lunch which will be very important for my career. There is one company I like, but their website had four typos.  I’m not sure if I should overlook these errors or take this as a sign that they won’t do a goodContinue reading “Tough Talk: March 28, 2024”

Tough Talk, My son and his wife live about an hour from our home.  His wife’s family live in the same town.  They always spend the holidays with her parents and family, but never even consider visiting or inviting us down for one of their parties. They don’t seem to care and we feel ignoredContinue reading “Tough Talk: March 27, 2024”

Tough Talk, My husband and I have just been invited to our Grandson’s wedding.  At the engagement party we met her relatives who were a bit stand-offish.  We have just been told that they would like my husband to shave and significantly trim his moustache and sideburns for the ceremony.  We love this boy andContinue reading “Tough Talk: March 26, 2024”

Tough Talk, I have issues with makeup and rarely use it due to rashes and other outbreaks.  Recently I have gone to both family and work functions where some of my friends, family and colleagues have made comments like I was being rude for not wearing this stuff.  I’ve tried to ignore it, but nowContinue reading “Tough Talk: March 25, 2024”

Tough Talk, It’s very important to me to understand how the new gender designations should be applied to social settings, invitations, greeting cards, dinner settings and whatnot. What advice do you have in this new and exciting area? (Melwood, Arizona) Melwood, I could give a rat’s ass about this “new and exciting area” of wackage. Continue reading “Tough Talk: March 22, 2024”

Tough Talk, I’ve been dating a man who was dumped by his girlfriend and she also did a bunch of stuff to him including leaving him with a huge debt.  She really ripped him off.  He popped the Q . . . but then a few days later he told me she called him andContinue reading “Tough Talk: March 21, 2024”

Tough Talk, My little sister is having her first baby and the whole family is excited for her and her husband.  I’m a little concerned and believe they should raise the child with particular values and beliefs which differ from my sister and most certainly her husband.  How I should make it clear that theyContinue reading “Tough Talk: March 20, 2024”

Tough Talk, My boyfriend and I have been together for several years.  He has been unemployed for long periods and I have always helped him and took care of him during these times.  But I just learned that he has been spending our money and making credit card charges for two or three younger women. Continue reading “Tough Talk: March 19, 2024”

Tough Talk, My second wife and I live with my daughter and her husband and are about to have their first child.  She loves me dearly, but it’s obvious that she and her husband don’t like my wife and insist that the child will call her by her first name instead of Grams.  I knowContinue reading “Tough Talk: March 18, 2024”

Tough Talk, I have been invited to my brother-in-law’s wedding as a bridesmaid.  I’ve come to believe that this marriage is immoral and a vessel of sin and will not participate in this blasphemy.  Do you think I should give back all the gifts I received for agreeing to do this? (Pittslake, Illinois) Pittsuloke, OfContinue reading “Tough Talk: March 15, 2024”